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The Best Studies of All Time

Don't you love when studies support habits you already have? We do, too. That's why we've rounded up the best "good news!" studies that help you justify your favorite vices. Read on and get ready to feel virtuous.

Sleeping In Can Help Your Heart

It's okay to forgo the alarm clock, suggests research out of the Los Angeles Biomedical Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Turns out, a few days of catch-up sleep after a late night (or two, or three) may help normalize insulin sensitivity that gets out of whack when you don't sleep enough. This could ultimately reduce your risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Mexican Food Can Keep You Thin

Thanks to research out of the University of Wyoming we know that capsaicin—found in chili powder—helps aid in metabolizing fat. What's more: adding 1/4 of a teaspoon of the spicy stuff to each meal can suppress your appetite, according to a study published Appetite.

Dark Chocolate Is the Best Thing Ever

Dark chocolate is a scientific sweet darling. Eating just an ounce has been shown to soften wrinkles, improve memory, decrease heart disease risk, fight inflammation, and help weight-loss efforts (don't go overboard, of course). It could also reduce diabetes risk, if you eat the right amount, according to Clinical Nutrition. More than 7,000 people were followed for 13.3 years, with different groups eating different amounts of dark chocolate. Those who ate chocolate up to six times a week reduced their risk of diabetes by 34 percent, while those who ate chocolate every day reduced their risk by 18 percent. Those who consumed it one to four times a month had a 13 percent reduced risk.

Yoga Is Good for Your Heart

There are TONS of studies supporting the benefits of yoga (stress reduction, weight loss, infertility, the list goes on). But our favorite may be a scientific review published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology that concluded striking a pose is as beneficial to reducing cardiovascular disease as biking or a brisk walk. Now you don't need to choose between cardio or yoga.

Hugs Can Keep You Healthy

Hugging may shield you from stress and sickness, suggests Psychological Science. Researchers found that greater social support and more frequent hugs protected people from being susceptible to illness associated with stress.

Candy Crush Helps You Eat Healthy

Fixated on a cookie, cake, or ice cream? Turn to a game on your phone instead of waiting it out, suggests research published in Appetite. Playing video games reduces the intensity and frequency of cravings because it distracts your mind from your hankering.

Coffee Protects Against Free Radical Damage

If java is your go-to drink, know this: It is one of the richest sources of polyphenols in the Western diet. And it's those compounds that protect your body from oxidative stress caused by pollution and tough workouts, according to Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis. Specifically, researchers found that drinking approximately three cups (or 27 fluid ounces) of coffee may reduce free radical damage by 12 percent.

Stress May Improve Your Sex Life

Before you think we're loony, hear us out. The more stress you have in your life, the more you might want to have sex, suggests a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Researchers from the University of Michigan Health System studied the journals of 952 women between the ages of 18 and 20—and uncovered that they had more sex when they were more stressed. This backs up other studies that have found sex to be a stress releaser. Unfortunately, this is one of the few upsides to stress.

Red Wine Is a Super Drink

Sipping red wine has a host of health benefits, such as reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and Alzeihmer's. But did you know it could also help maintain muscle when you're taking a workout hiatus? A Journal of Translational Medicine study found that resveratrol, an antioxidant in red wine, can aid in muscle growth. Best. News. Ever.

Social Media Can Help You Lose Weight

If you broadcast your life via Facebook, it may help you reach and keep your goals—especially if they involve weight, suggests a study out of the University of South Carolina. And it isn't the only platform that touts social media as a weight-loss tool. A little Twitter TMI about your struggles (plus interaction with others) can keep everyone on the path to a healthy weight.

Sex Reduces Hot Flashes

Having sex can make women cooler—literally. A study in African Journal of Medicine and Medicinal Sciences found that menopausal women who had sex at least once a week had significantly fewer hot flashes compared to those who abstained from sex. Trust—you'll appreciate this little factoid later in life.